Overview:
Powdercoating is used extensively within the aluminium industry for both decorative and protective purposes on a wide range of products.

What Is Powdercoating?
The earliest use of powdercoating dates from the late 1940’s and is a process where a film of specially formulated thermosetting powder is applied to aluminium extrusion using an electrostatic charge.  The powder is oven baked or “stoved” onto the metal in a curing oven, to provide a tough and durable finish.

The powder is a mix of resins and pigments that are available in a wide variety of colours and formulated for numerous applications.  However, only powders designed specifically for architectural applications (where colour and gloss retention are critical) should be chosen for use with aluminium joinery.  These polyester powders have advanced weathering properties including chemical, corrosion and ultra violet resistance.

Factors to consider when choosing your Powdercoat colours
All coating will start degrading when exposed to the elements of heat, UV light and water.  Therefore careful consideration of powder and colour type is essential to ensure maximum weatherability and durability.  Four aspects which need to be considered when choosing powder are:

1. Environment: New Zealand’s hard UV conditions.
2. Micro Climate:  Particularly the effects of geothermal gases, coastal sea breezes and over-exposure to sunlight can affect the performance of the surface finishing.  Therefore the powder and colour must be chosen to suit the conditions, whether it be in Queenstown or Auckland City.
3. Choice of colour and grade to minimize chalking: Chalking is a loss of pigmentation in the powder once applied resulting in “fading”.  Chalking is overcome with higher grade powders which have less likelihood of chalking.
4. Colour and Gloss Retention: Not all colours will perform similarly in New Zealand’s harsh ultra violet conditions. 

• Lighter colours, be they in any paint or powder system, will always out perform darker or brighter colours in remaining closer to the original colour and gloss. 
• Darker colours tend to absorb more heat and are therefore likely to be affected sooner.
• Light pastel colours are the most durable.
• Bright colours have less colour fastness and are not recommended in commercial and/or high rise situations.

To view our powder coat colours click here.

To request a ColourScape brochure contact Daniel Slade